The process of placement of elder or dependent adults into protective custody may differ from county to county, and requires a resolution by the county’s Board of Supervisors. The Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors has not adopted this resolution.

An individual’s APS case is confidential. The reporting party of an APS case is also kept confidential, and APS can only release the identity of a reporting party at the direction of the Court. Collateral contacts may be questioned regarding their level of involvement, or to gather additional information as it relates to allegations and findings.

Yes. An APS investigation usually starts with an unannounced home visit. If an individual self-reports, a visit can be prearranged. If there is a concern that an unannounced visit might result in harm to the individual, APS will try to prearrange a meeting at an alternate location.

Burn days are determined by meteorologists from the California Air Resource Board and are based upon expected weather conditions and current air quality. When burning is allowed by CALFIRE (typically burn season is from late fall through spring), please call the Air Pollution Control District’s burn line 209-533-5598

Animal Control receives mail at 2 South Green Street in Sonora but the office is actually at 10040 Victoria Way in Jamestown. If headed west on Highway 108, go one mile past the signal at the town of Jamestown. Turn right at C & C Minimart. The road will dead end. Turn right again and proceed to the end of the cul-de-sac. Animal Control shares a building with the Humane Society of Tuolumne County.

Animal Control is a government agency charged with enforcing the state laws and county ordinances pertaining to domestic animals. We provide a shelter for stray and seized animals. Animal Control evacuates and shelters animals during large scale emergencies.

Humane Society is a non profit organization that is funded by donations and grants. They have a limited entry shelter that accepts surrendered animals from the public. They also transfer some animals from the Animal Control shelter to their facility. The Humane Society provides spay/neuter assistance and humane education. Their phone number is 984-5489.

Both Animal Control and the Humane Society have animals available for adoption.

All dogs in the State of California are required to obtain a rabies vaccination by the age of 4 months. They are also required to be licensed in the jurisdiction in which they live. In Tuolumne County all dogs must be licensed within 30 days of the following: turning 4 months; moving to the county; or ownership. A late penalty will apply if not done within this time frame. The only exception is that there will be no penalty for young dogs up to 6 months old if they have been spayed or neutered.

Licensing can also be done via mail to 2 South Green Street, Sonora, CA 95370. Be sure to include a legal size Stamped Self Addressed Envelope with $.70 postage.

To obtain a license provide a rabies vaccination certificate from a veterinarian. To obtain the discount price for altered dogs, include a spay/neuter certificate first time licensing or if the status of the dog has changed. One or three year licensing is available. The rabies vaccination must be valid for the duration to qualify for three year licensing.

Tuolumne County Animal Control and the Tuolumne County Veterinary Association provide low cost rabies vaccination clinics from the end of May until the beginning of September. They are held at different locations throughout the county. All of the clinics are for dogs only except the first and the last. These two clinics are held at the shelter and are open to dogs, cats, and livestock. A current schedule is posted on this website around April of each year.

The State of California is a declared rabies area. Any time an animal that is susceptible to rabies, such as a dog or cat, bites or scratches someone it needs to quarantined. This can typically be done at home if the dog has a current rabies vaccination (given at least 30 days before the bite). In the case of home quarantine the animal must be kept within 4 solid walls such as a house, garage, or shed. An Animal Control Officer will come to the home to approve where the animal is being kept and have the owner sign a quarantine contract. Dogs that do not have a current rabies vaccination must go to the shelter or a veterinarian’s office for quarantine.

Be sure to seek medical aid if bitten by an animal. Rinse wounds as quickly as possible even if you only have access to water. If there is no animal to quarantine then rabies post exposure treatment will be recommended. Rabies is a fatal disease.

Skunks and bats are the main carriers of rabies in California however; all mammals are susceptible to rabies. If an exposure occurs, such as your dog fights with a raccoon or your cat catches a bat, it is imperative to booster the animal for rabies within 48 hours. If the wildlife specimen is available it will be tested for rabies. If the test comes back positive or there is no specimen to test then the dog or cat will need to be quarantined. If the dog or cat had a preexisting current rabies vaccination and received the booster then the quarantine will be 30 days. If it did not have a preexisting current rabies vaccination or did not receive the booster then the quarantine is 6 months. It is important to keep all pets current on rabies vaccinations.

You will need to call our office during regular phone hours Monday- Friday 9:00-4:00. It is imperative that we actually speak to the reporting party to obtain all the necessary information. We do not handle anonymous or emailed complaints. A phone number must be provided for contact. It is also important to have the physical address so that prior history can be investigated. Please be as specific as possible with dates and times. Reporting party identities will be kept confidential unless the person chooses to be a witness.

Animal Control handles all legitimate complaints but priority is given to threats to public safety and animal welfare. In cases where a violation has occurred but it was not witnessed by the Animal Control Officer we cannot write a citation or submit a case to the District Attorney. It is up to the citizen witness to be willing to testify in these cases. It is also important to report problems when they first start to occur so that the history is documented.

Call the office with the address or good directions if the location is something not marked, such as a pasture. Take photos if possible. Animal Control has a series of legal steps that must be followed to handle neglect cases. Unless the animal is in a life threatening situation, we cannot immediately seize it. Please resist the urge to feed and water the animal. The Animal Control Officer needs to document the conditions for evidence in a hearing or in court.

Everyone has personal opinions about the right way to treat and maintain animals but keep in mind that Animal Control can only intervene if the law is being broken.

It is not illegal for a dog to bark. It is a violation if it creates a chronic annoyance, disturbance, or discomfort to those in close proximity. It is a fact that most nuisance barking occurs when the owner is not home. Dogs are social animals and get lonely and bored. Sometimes the solution is as simple as letting the neighbor know that their dog is barking and giving them an opportunity to fix the problem.

When reporting a barking dog to Animal Control it is important to have the correct physical address and be as detailed as possible as to when precisely the barking is occurring. A history check will be done and if this is the first complaint or there has not been one in 6 months, a letter will be sent to the dog owner. It will not include the name of the complaining party but will give specifics about the complaint and ideas for addressing the problem.

If the problem continues then we will need at least two different households willing to document dates and times of barking. A complaint will be submitted to the District Attorney office and they will determine if charges are to be filed based on the witness testimony.

Due to staffing cut backs Animal Control does not routinely go out on barking dog complaints. The exception is that if there are at least three reporting parties being disturbed. When time permits Animal Control will send an Officer to the neighborhood to park a discreet distance from the residence and listen for barking. If the ACO witnesses the dog barking for 30 minutes then a citation can be issued and/or the dog impounded.

Animal Control loans cat traps to capture feral or stray cats. We do not set the traps or pick up the cats. There is a $20.00 deposit that is refunded when the trap is returned undamaged. If you are planning on bringing the cat to the shelter you will be placed on a trapping schedule. We have a limited ability to receive cats and need to accommodate as many people as possible. Please note- if you have your own trap call first before trapping so that we can reserve a space for you.

If you are planning on trapping, neutering and releasing please make sure that all residences and businesses that will be affected are in agreement that they want a feral cat colony in the area. You must also make a commitment to care for these animals by providing resources and retrapping should a cat become injured or ill.

Animal Control maintains a lost and found list. Be sure to file a lost or found report with our office. Photos of impounded animals are posted on PetHarbor.com. In addition to calling our office, post flyers in the area that the animal was lost. Call the local radio station (533-1450) so that the information can be posted on the pet patrol on MyMotherLode.com. Post the animal on Lost Paws of Tuolumne County. Let as many people know by whatever means (Face book, Twitter, etc) as possible.

We have many wonderful dogs and cats available at Animal Control. We also get other critters such as rabbits, birds, reptiles, horses, goats, etc. Shelter hours for adoption are M-F 9:00-1:00 and Sat 10:00-1:00.

Prior to adoption we do conduct a background check to verify good pet ownership. We talk with your veterinarian, check our records, and make sure the landlord is on board if you rent.

If the animal you are adopting is not neutered there is a $40.00 spay/neuter deposit redeemable at the veterinarian’s office. If it is a dog greater than 4 months and it does not have a rabies vaccination there is a $10.00 rabies deposit. There are also applicable license fees and an adoption fee of $23.00.

Our shelter is for strays and seized animals. We do offer low cost euthanasia for animals with serious medical or behavioral problems. We are a last resort if you are trying to rehome a pet.

If you know you must give up a pet do not wait until the last minute. Contact the Humane Society of Tuolumne County (984-5489), Friends of the Animal Community (768-3630), or search for one of the many breed rescues available on line.

Make sure your pet is spayed or neutered and up to date on vaccinations and heartworm preventive. This will make them much more adoptable. Also be honest about any problems that the pet may have.

If the dead animal is on the highway call Cal Trans (984-4438 or 586-3851). If the dead animal is in the unincorporated area of Tuolumne County call Animal Control. Requests for dead animal pickup will be handled when manpower and time permits. Dead runs will usually be done 1 to 3 times per week. Priority will be given to road hazards and dead animals in highly populated areas. Animal Control reserves the right to leave a carcass if it is in a remote area and likely to be consumed by scavenger animals. Animal Control will not pick up any carcasses that have had any substances, such as lime, put on them.

It is the duty of the owner of any animal that dies to dispose of the carcass within a reasonable time by cremation, burial, or other lawful means. Animal Control may be contracted to pick up the body for a fee if manpower and time permits.

A property that has been reassessed under Proposition 8 is reviewed annually todetermine its market value as of the lien date, January 1st. The assessed value ofa property having a Proposition 8 value may increase each lien date (January 1st)by more than the standard two percent maximum allowed for properties assessedunder their Factored Base Year Value (Proposition 13); however, unless there is achange in ownership or new construction, a property’s assessed value can neverincrease above its Factored Base Year Value (Proposition 13). Explanation of Proposition 8

You should first contact the Assessor’s Office and ask for an explanation and an informal review of the value. If you do not agree with the results of the informal review you should then file an application for changed assessment with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors (Board of Equalization).

If you or the person you are helping is in crisis, call 209-533-7000, or toll free 800-630-1130; call 911 if it is a serious emergency.For all other urgent or routine mental health or drug and alcohol issues, call (209)533-6245 to make an appointment or walk in to 105 Hospital Road, Sonora, Monday through Friday, 8am – 5 pm. After filling out essential paperwork, the person will receive an initial assessment to determine what sort of services are needed and available.

Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency should call the Behavioral Health crisis line 209-533-7000 or 1-800-630-1130 and speak with a crisis worker. The person in crisis may be asked to come to Behavioral Health for assessment, as many crisis situations can be deescalated or averted without the need for hospitalization. In some situations, people will be transported to or advised to go to the Sonora Regional Medical Center Emergency Room. There, an assessment will be done of the person’s physical and mental health and the presenting problem will be addressed.

If the person needs to be hospitalized for mental health reasons, they will be sent to an appropriate psychiatric facility somewhere in California, usually within a few hours from Tuolumne County, for a 72 hour hold (often called a “5150”). During this time, the person is evaluated by a psychiatrist and provided treatment if appropriate; case managers keep in contact with the facility during this time to develop an after-care plan for the person. Whether or not a person is hospitalized for their condition, follow-up resources and after care plans help to get the person to the care they need.

If you are a current client, you may call the Medication Services Refills/Requests line 209-533-6227. Please allow 3 days for processing, and be sure to call before your medications run out.

If you are not a current client, we strongly encourage you to follow-up with your previous psychiatrist or physical health care doctor if possible. Psychiatric medications are prescribed through Behavioral Health, but the referral process may take a few weeks, especially for new clients just entering into services.

For crisis events, anyone treated by Behavioral Health should complete financial paperwork to ensure insurances are billed and a sliding scale is applied to balances if applicable. For all other services, Behavioral Health is a designated Medi-Cal facility and accepts regular Medi-Cal insurance if the person’s needs meet medical necessity. Some services are available by private pay.

No, there is no local facility for inpatient psychiatric crisis treatment. Many years ago there was a unit within the County hospital, but it has been closed for some time. Currently all people being hospitalized for psychiatric reasons will be sent to facilities in neighboring counties.

No, the California Health &Safety Code Section 119304 addresses not restricting the activities of physicians and surgeons. It is not the intent of the Safe Body Art Act to require sites (e.g., doctor’ offices, surgery centers) where permanent cosmetics are applied under a physician’s or surgeon’s direction to obtain a body art facility permit. It is also not the intent of the Safe Body Art Act to require a practitioner to retain a body art registration if that practitioner only operates under the direction of a physician or surgeon.

If a practitioner intends to provide any permanent cosmetic services outside of those directed by a physician or surgeon, then they will need to have a practitioner registration and the site will need a body art facility permit.

Any individual who is going to perform body art on a person must be a registered practitioner, even if no money is exchanged or the body art occurs as part of a training course. The only exception is for a practitioner who only provides procedures at sites under the control and direction of a physician or surgeon.

No, only Health &Safety Code Sections 119306 and 119307 are required for a practitioner to gain or maintain their registration. Health &Safety Code Sections 119308-119311 are operational requirements that can be applied to the practitioner or the facility during the course of an inspection.

That is at the discretion of the local jurisdiction. The person with the training certificate would have to provide proof that shows that the course meets all the requirements as noted in California Health and Safety Code (H&SC) Section 119307. If it cannot be provided or be read by staff (in a foreign language), then the individuals should be required to take a California specific BBP course from an LEA approved trainer.

Any person who will be performing body art on a person is required to take and maintain a Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control training certificate. This includes students working in a classroom setting, if they are working on a live person. This would also include individuals working in the decontamination and sterilization room, as they may be exposed to instruments with human fluids or tissue on it.

No, an IPCP is not the same as an ECP. The Infection Prevention and Control Plan, as listed in H&SC Section 119313, requires a body art facility to spell out processes and standard operating procedures that allow the facility to comply with the Safe Body Art Act such as cleaning and sterilizing, set-up and tear down of procedure areas and ways to keep instruments and procedure areas from being contaminated. An Exposure Control Plan, which is required by OSHA, requires, among other things, an operator to list all positions that may have exposure, how they will be trained to minimize exposure, who is responsible for the site and how to report and handle an incident of exposure to Blood or other potentially infectious materials.

The intent of the section is to provide a route to trace back equipment if any complaints or problems implicate the pre-packaged, pre-sterilized instruments. A facility should always maintain records of purchases for these goods and lot numbers or other identifiers that single out a particular package or shipment. A facility can keep a separate master log documenting each piece of equipment used, the client’s name and the date of use. It would also be acceptable to have an area on the client’s consent form that allows the practitioner to list each pre-packaged, pre-sterilized instrument used during a procedure, which would include a box or lot number or other reference to identify the material source.

If the pre-sterilized instruments are not individually labeled to show sterility or have any marking that would indicate when the sterility is no longer valid, it is the operator’s responsibility to either keep the instruments in a box that has the details of the sterility and use by date or to provide some type of documentation that shows the items are sterile. If the box does not have that information or the documentation does not show that information, then the operator should change suppliers to one that provides that information.

A Body Art Facility is not technically a medical facility so it is not clear whether HIPAA applies, but the two year timeframe is too restrictive for a variety of reasons and it is recommended that this provision not be applied as part of the inspection. This provision is on a list of items to be removed from the code in the next legislative session.

Proper usage of sterilizers is addressed in Health &Safety Code Section 119315 (b) which states the sterilizer shall be loaded, operated, decontaminated and maintained according to manufacturer’s directions. Although no such language exists to address mechanical cleaning systems, such as ultrasonic cleaners, it is the intent of the Safe Body Art Act that they are also operated and maintained according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.

The Class 5 integrators requirement derives from ANSI/AAMI standards for autoclave testing. The Safe Body Art Act states the Class V Integrator is the minimum standard. Other testing methods can be proposed but they must at least meet the standards set for the Class V integrators.

Yes, Health &Safety Code Section 119315 (b) (1) requires all sterilization equipment used be manufactured for sterilization of medical equipment. Health &Safety Code Section 119309 (e) requires all instruments to be steam sterilized. This section does not allow for the use of chemical sterilizers. Statim machines, that use steam and a cartridge system but not peel packs, may be used to sterilize instruments or jewelry for immediate use as long as a Class V integrator or better is used with each sterilization run.

Sharps waste includes any disposable instruments or disposable parts of an instrument that has acute rigid corners, edges, or protuberances capable of cutting or piercing. (e.g., tattoo needles, razors used to prepare skin)

Service Animals were not addressed in the Safe Body Art Act, but it is not the intent of the act to circumvent ADA requirements so service animals should be allowed as defined by ADA. This oversight will be addressed in the next legislative session.

No clear path is provided in the Safe Body Art Act. The following guidance is based on consultation with Body Art Industry representatives who have worked on the Safe Body Art Act. A pregnant individual should postpone the procedure until after they are no longer pregnant. If a client gives a positive response to any of the conditions in Section 119303 (b) (2), (b) (3) or (b) (4), then that individual should be asked to provide a doctor’s note outlining that they are fit or that it is safe to provide them with the procedure. These responses are in no way required by the practitioner but the intent of the consent questions was to enlighten the practitioner so they could make an informed decision before potentially providing a risky procedure, both for them and the client.

No, there is no grandfathering language in the Act but it was not the intention to require that all facilities in business prior to July 1, 2012 immediately retrofit their facilities to meet the Act’s provision if they can show that they can operate in substantial conformance with the Act.

Although Section 119317 (f) of the Health and Safety Code is very clear in its direction for when a handwash sink set-up must be emptied and refilled, the time and procedure limits may not be realistic based on the type of operations at the event. It is more advisable to use a best practice stance on the handwashing stations used at temporary events and to focus on proper use and maintenance of the handwash station then to try and hold practitioners to a strict hours or procedures schedule.

No, this was an oversight in the creation of the Safe Body Art Act and it will be removed in the next legislative session. It was not the intent of the Act to require an eyewash station at temporary events

All payments except federal tax intercepts are first applied to any current month obligation, then to interest, and last to arrears. If the custodial parent received public assistance, he/she will receive $50 and the rest will be applied for reimbursement to the county.

If the custodial parent does not receive public assistance, and never did, he/she will receive all of the payment for current support and arrears. If the custodial parent used to be on public assistance, he/she may not receive all of any payment received for arrears.

If you have lost a check or have not received a check 14 days after it was issued, contact our office and we will send you the appropriate forms to complete. When we receive the completed form we will request a stop payment order be placed on the check. A new check will then be issued. The entire process can take up to three weeks.

If you can work something out with the employee where the medical is all withheld at once and then the child support is sent in with the next withholding, that could work as long as the child support is being sent monthly when it is due.

No, as both of the above are government / tax payer subsidized programs, ultimately they are a form of public assistance. One of the goals of the child support program is to reduce dependency on public assistance programs.

If aid is not expended on the children and a case is not open with a local child support agency (LCSA), then there is no need for us to be involved and the employee can continue to pay their support voluntarily. Once an LCSA is involved, the law requires the employee to pay via wage assignment through the LCSA.

No. Changes are not to be made unless the local child support agency (LCSA) contacts you with further instructions. The age when child support ends varies and all court orders are unique. If you have any questions regarding the notice to withhold, please contact the LCSA.

Call the local child support agency (LCSA) to determine what your next step should be. Please do not send the notice back if there is a possibility that the individual is employed with you. If, however, the notice is from Franchise Tax Board (FTB), send it back to the FTB marked no record as their information is processed differently from the LCSA.

We will mail you a payment within two business days from the day we receive the payment. To collect a child support obligation, we need to know where the non-custodial parent is working. We will then serve a wage assignment so that the obligation is automatically deducted from his or her wages.

If you know where the non-custodial parent is working, please inform us via mail or phone, and we will serve a wage assignment.

The order has not been reviewed by this office within the last 12 months and;

The basis for any decrease is anticipated to last more than six months

If you believe your case meets these requirements and would like to start the review process, please telephone or come to our office to submit your request to start the modification review process.

Warning: This review may result in either an increase or decrease in your support amount depending on the circumstances of both parents. Once you have returned the application for review, the process will not be terminated regardless of whether your order will be increased or decreased. In other words, as the payor, you may expect your obligation to decrease but when the guidelines are calculated and support actually increases, we will proceed with the increase.

You may also seek a modification on your own behalf pursuant to California Family Code Section 3651.

Yes, if appropriate. We will confirm that your employer is deducting the child support from your paycheck according to the court order on your case(s) and then the FTB 50% deduction can be reviewed for possible reduction or withdrawal.

FTB does, however, request that their order stay in place for two months. After two months, we can review to reduce or lift their assignment as long as the county and/or private order(s) are being honored by your employer.

Note: If you have multiple cases in this county or cases in more than one county, the transaction may be more complex. Please advise how many biological children you are currently paying for, their ages, where you pay, and monthly amounts when you contact our office.

We will review your account and tell you the exact period of time we charged for support paid in our county. Please tell us your account number(s) in the other counties, whether you are paying current support, and if possible, the months charged by the other counties.

Once you have the breakdown of charges in each county, you can advise the other county that you are paying here to see if they will request a reduction in the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) collection. Please be advised that only the county who submitted you to FTB collection is eligible to withdraw your case from that program.

You should contact our office immediately to work out a monthly payment plan and we will contact the Franchise Tax Board to hold off on any additional enforcement actions, if the circumstances are appropriate.

Please inform this office where you are currently working so that we can serve your employer with a wage assignment. When you begin to pay each month, we will review your account for release. If you can bring in or fax bank statements and W2's with current income information, we will review your case to reduce or release the hold, if appropriate.

Prior to contacting us, please verify that the Tuolumne County Department of Child Support Services placed the hold on your license. This information is noted on the letter from the licensing agency. We cannot release another county's hold on your license.

Once you've verified that it is Tuolumne County holding your license, please complete and submit to us the State Licensing Match System (SLMS) Request for Review form and provide us with the license type and number, your current address, phone number, and employer or source of income.

We will review your case and if it meets with our release criteria (i.e. you are paying regularly by wage assignment), we will send a license release form to the licensing agency or the department of motor vehicles (DMV). You will also receive a copy in the mail. You can obtain a request for review form from the licensing agency. Once the release form is sent to the DMV, it may take them one to two weeks before it is cleared.

If you have not received the check 14 days after it was issued, contact our office and we will send you the appropriate forms to complete. When we receive the forms back from you, a stop payment order will be placed on the check. A new check will then be issued. The entire process may take as long as three weeks.

You can notify us in writing, or by calling or visiting our office. We will then close your portion of the case. If the child(ren) ever received CalWORKs benefits, we will continue to collect the child support owed only for that time period. If the child(ren) never received CalWORKs benefits, we will close the case and send you and the non-custodial parent a closing letter.

State and federal laws require us to legally establish paternity, child support, and a health insurance coverage assignment for the child(ren) listed on the complaint. You must respond by filing an answer with the Tuolumne County Clerk's office within 30 days of service. The county clerk's office charges a fee of $236.

You must discuss your eligibility for a fee waiver with a representative of their office. If you do not file an answer, a default judgment will be filed based upon the proposed judgment included in your summons and complaint packet.

If you do not believe you are the father of this child, you must file an answer (included in the packet) with the Tuolumne County Clerk's office. The county clerk's office charges a fee of $236. You may discuss your eligibility for a fee waiver with a representative of their office. Once your answer is filed, a court date and genetic test appointments will be scheduled to determine if you are the father or not.

The child support amount is based upon the information you provide to us prior to the filing of the summons and complaint (i.e. health insurance coverage costs, union dues, etc.), and the information in the case. This includes the information we receive from the Employment Development Department regarding your work history and the amount of child support for other children you may have for whom you pay child support.

This information is input into a state approved computer program which indicates the income and deductions given to arrive at the amount of child support. A copy of the computer calculations is attached to the summons and complaint.

As a result of September 11, 2001, legislation was passed allowing custodial and non-custodial parents to request a review of their current child support obligation and interest charged on the unpaid balance if they were called to active duty. If you believe your case is eligible for review, please contact our office at 1-866-901-3212.

At that time we will review your case to determine if your monthly child support will decrease as a result of a drop in your income due to active service, or if a modification to the interest charged on the unpaid balance is appropriate.

For a change in the child support order or a lower interest rate on past due support, you will need to provide documentation of active duty status and the date when active duty began. Please state your reason for modification request as the Servicepersons Civil Relief Act to help us expedite your request.

Any custodial or non-custodial parent may open a case in our office. If you are currently receiving benefits from CalWORKs or Medi-Cal, Department of Social Services (DSS) must refer your case to us and a case will be opened on your behalf.

You can contact our office at 1-866-901-3212 to schedule an appointment and request an application be mailed to you. You can also download an application, or submit a request to have an application mailed to you from the Customer Connect self-service website.

Within 20 days of receipt of a completed application or welfare referral we will open a case. We will start verifying information received, such as addresses and employment information, and mail a case opening letter to the custodial and non-custodial parent.

If you are receiving CalWORKs benefits, state and federal laws require recipients to participate in the child support program. The Department of Social Services office must send us a referral to notify us to open a case to establish paternity and child support for the child(ren) receiving the benefits.

When you are approved for these benefits, your rights to child support are assigned to the county for the time period you are on aid. The Department of Child Support Services is charged with the duties to establish and enforce a paternity, child support, and a health insurance coverage assignment order in order to reimburse the money paid to you.

This office must legally establish paternity and child support in a court order for children receiving welfare benefits. An agreement, even a notarized agreement, is not an enforceable court order, which is what we are required to pursue.

We will continue to collect child support on your behalf unless you request in writing that we close the non-welfare portion of your case. Even if we do close your non-welfare portion of the case, we will continue to pursue for the child support owed for the time period you were receiving CalWORKs benefits.

If the United States has a reciprocal agreement with the other country, we will contact them to obtain and/or enforce a child support order. If not, we have no jurisdiction to enforce and will have to review the case for closure.

Once we have determined that an out-of-state referral is necessary, a request is sent from our office to the other jurisdiction. The other jurisdiction has 90 days from the date we sent the referral to open the case.

The only contact we can make with the other jurisdiction during that time period is to request an acknowledgement letter after 30 to 45 days. After 90 days, we can send requests to the other jurisdiction asking for the case status of your case.

We must register another county or state's order to make it an enforceable Tuolumne County order. With an enforceable order, we can serve wage assignments and national medical support notices, submit balances for IRS, FTB, unemployment and disability intercepts, and many other enforcement tools to enforce the order. Without the registration process, we have no legal means of enforcing the order.

Once we have exhausted all enforcement measures available to use in California, we will request the other state enforce an order on our/your behalf. In order to enforce our California order in another state, the other state must first register the California order to make it an enforceable order in their state.

This allows them to use various enforcement tools such as service of wage assignments and national medical support notices, liens on assets, and interception of unemployment or disability benefits.

Prior to requesting the assistance of another state, we review every case to determine if California has jurisdiction to either establish or enforce a child support order. If we determine that California has no jurisdiction, we send a request to the other state asking them to establish and/or enforce a child support order as we do not have the jurisdiction legally necessary to establish and/or enforce a child support order in the case. Jurisdiction is determined pursuant to federal and state laws and regulations.

No. Child Welfare Services only intervenes in cases of suspected child abuse and neglect. Families are instructed to contact the Tuolumne County Family Court at 209-533-6936 for child custody related matters.

There is no legally defined age for a child to remain home alone. Parents are encouraged to use good judgment when making this decision, and to consider the child's developmental and cognitive abilities when deciding if their child can be safe home alone. Families choosing to leave their children home alone should ensure their children know what steps to take in the event of an emergency.

Yes. If you would like to review your referral/case records, please call Child Welfare Services at 209-533-5717. An appointment date and time will be scheduled for you to come to the office and review your records.

Child Welfare Services has staff available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to emergencies and take reports of suspected child abuse and neglect. You may access these services by calling 209-533-HELP.

If you are a mandated reporter, you may not remain anonymous. If you are unsure if you are a mandated reporter, you can review section 11165.7 of the Penal Code for a complete listing. If you are still unsure, you may contact the Child Welfare Services office and seek clarification. If you are calling as a non-mandated reporter, your report can be made anonymous.

The family planning program offers gynecological and reproductive health screening for income eligible women of all ages. Services offered include pregnancy testing, family planning and birth control for minimal or no cost. Also, sexually transmitted disease testing and confidential HIV testing to anyone 12 years of age or older is available. Services provided by Board Certified Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant. Medi-Cal and private pay clients gladly accepted. Call 533-7401 for appointment or information.

Childhood and limited adult immunizations as well as tuberculosis skin testing are available on a walk-in basis on Tuesdays from 1-4 pm. Children who have Medi-Cal , children with no insurance and children whose insurance does not cover vaccinations are eligible for low or no cost vaccinations through a federal program. Adult vaccines available include; Flu, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis). Medi-Cal and/or private pay accepted. For more information call 533-7401.

A recreational vehicle may not be used for human occupancy for more than 14 days in a calendar year. However, with approval from the Building and Safety Division, one may reside in a recreational vehicle while they have an active permit for the new construction of a residence or business.

As directed by the County Ordinance Code, for planning-related violations, CDD is reactive not proactive. We do not take action until we receive a complaint. Once a complaint is received then we proceed in working with the property owner to mitigate the violation. For building-related violations the CDD is proactive and will initiate enforcement action without a complaint to ensure that life safety concerns are addressed.

The penalties for failing to get a permit for building/remodeling projects range from $100 deposit against 50% permit fee for smaller projects and go up to $1,000 deposit against four times the permit fee for larger projects. For failure to correct a zoning violation, penalties start at $100 and go up to $1,000 if not corrected.

The Office of the County Counsel provides legal advice to the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors, County Departments, agencies and certain commissions, committees and special districts. We cannot provide legal advice or answer legal questions for the general public.

No. However, the Tuolumne County Superior Court has a Self-Help Center which provides information for individuals who are looking for information or are representing themselves. You can reach the Self-Help Center at (209) 533-6565.

You may submit a written or oral request for a public record to the County department/entity from which you wish to receive a response. Alternatively, you may submit your request to us. When submitting your request, please include your contact information so we may timely respond.

You may either contact our office by phone and request a Claim for Personal Injuries or a Claim for Property Damage (or both) be mailed to you or you can download the forms by clicking on the above link(s). When you submit your claim, please provide any and all back up documentation you have regarding the alleged damages/injuries (police reports, estimates for repair, photographs of damage, etc.). Our office has forty-five (45) days in which to respond to your claim, once it is received by our office.

Collections lawsuits are filed by the Office of the County Counsel, but you should first contact Tuolumne County Revenue Recovery at (209) 533-5920. If your question is not answered at Revenue Recovery, please contact our office at (209) 533-5517.

Land surveys vary in cost. The size and location of the lot along with the type of terrain and vegetation are some of the factors that will affect the cost of the survey. Most licensed surveyors will provide an estimate for the survey.

Yes, while performing a survey as provided for in Section 846.5 of the Civil Code, Section 8774 of the Business & Professions Code and Section 602.8 of the Penal Code. Notice to the landowner shall be given where practicable.

Perhaps not; the County Assessor assigns multiple Parcel Numbers for various reasons, and it may not mean that you have more than one legal parcel. You may contact the County Assessor’s Office at (209) 533-5535 or the County Surveyor’s Office at (209) 533-5626 for assistance.

In most cases, a crime must be reported to the law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over the city or county where the crime occurred. However, there are exceptions, for example, real estate and consumer fraud.

Crimes are charged by the District Attorney’s Office on behalf of the People of the State of California, not on behalf of any particular victim. The decision to file or to drop charges in any criminal prosecution can only be made by an attorney in the District Attorney’s Office. A victim’s wishes will be considered, but the final determination as to whether or not charges will be filed or dismissed rests with the D.A.’s Office.

Contact the VICTIM/WITNESS Assistance Program of the District Attorney’s Office. Victim advocates can provide information about the California State Victim Compensation Program and information about other services. (Click on the VICTIM/WITNESS link)

A provisional ballot is a regular ballot that is put inside of a provisional envelope. The voter fills out name and current address on the envelope and signs it. After the polls close, the ballot is returned to the election office, where the information on the envelope is verified against the voter registration records.

If the information that the voter has written on the envelope matches the information on the voter registration record, the ballot is removed from the envelope and counted just like any other ballot.

The following voters will be asked to put their ballot inside of a provisional envelope; Voters who have moved into a new precinct and have not updated their registration to the new address; Voters whose names are not on the roster where they go to vote; Voters who have registered by mail, but did not provide a CA .driver’s license number, or CA ID number when they registered; Voters who return their absentee ballots to the polls without an envelope; Voters who have applied to vote by mail, but do not have their ballot to turn in when they go to the polls; Voters who register too late for their names to be printed on the roster. Too late is 29 days before the election.

All of the contests and measures for which you are eligible to vote had you gone to your correct polling place will be counted. Contests and measures for which you are not eligible to vote will not be counted.

A local EMS agency is responsible for the certification of emergency medical technicians (EMTs), first responders (FRs), the authorizing of mobile intensive care nurses (MICNs), and the local accreditation of paramedics and flight nurses. The local ambulance services, both ground and air ambulances, must be permitted by the EMS agency. The EMS agency must also organize the EMS system, maintain treatment guidelines and policies, and investigate complaints and unusual occurrences. Disaster response planning and mutual aid for medical assets are also the responsibility of the EMS agency. The EMS agency must annually submit an EMS Plan to the California EMS authority. This plan outlines the current capabilities of the EMS system, areas that need improvement, and how those improvements are to be made.

You must successfully complete an EMT training course that uses Department of Transportation (DOT) approved curriculum., and pass the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMTs) examinations. Upon successful completion of these requirements, you may apply for certification at the local EMS Agency. You must have proof of current CPR/AED training, pay the established fees, and submit your fingerprints for a Department of Justice (DOJ) Livescan criminal history check.

You must possess a current EMT-I certification issued in California, and obtain at least twenty-four hours of continuing education from an approved EMS continuing education provider or successfully complete a twenty-four hour EMT-I refresher course from an approved EMT-I training program. (If your certification has lapsed for more than six months, additional continuing education will be required) You must complete an application and an affidavit stating that the applicant is not precluded from certification as an EMT-I and complete a Livescan criminal background check the State of California Department of Justice. (This requirement does not apply for applicants with a current and valid EMT-I certification issued by the Tuolumne County EMS Agency.) and pay the certification fee established by the Board of Supervisors. You must also submit a copy of a current State of California Driver's License, Identification Card or Military Identification Card, and submit a completed skills competency verification form, EMSA-SCV (07/03).

You must successfully complete a first responder training course that uses Department of Transportation (DOT) approved curriculum and then pass the certification examination. Upon successful completion of these requirements, you may apply for certification at the local EMS Agency. You must have proof of current CPR/AED training, and you must be affiliated with a recognized Tuolumne County First Responder Agency to be certified.

You must possess a current first responder certification issued in California, and obtain at least twelve hours of continuing education from an approved EMS continuing education provider. You must complete an application and an affidavit stating that the applicant is not precluded from certification as a first responder, and submit a copy of a current State of California Driver's License, Identification Card, or Military Identification Card. You must also submit a completed skills competency verification form, EMSA-SCV (July 3).

Maybe. Some offenses will preclude you from certification. You may be certified at the discretion of the EMS medical director. The EMS medical director may certify you on a probationary status or place additional requirements upon you for certification.

You can sign up to receive email or text alerts on the Notify Me webpage.

For the general public we suggest subscribing to Notify MeNews Flash: Engineering to stay up to date on the latest reports and press releases about Tuolumne County's roads. Additionally, these updates can be found on the bottom of the Engineering-Capital Improvement Projects webpage.

For contractors and potential bidders we suggest subscribing to Notify Me Bid Postings: Roads and Engineering to be alerted when the county has released a Request for Proposals. You can view projects that are currently accepting proposals on the Bid Posting webpage.

Caltrans inspects all County bridges every two years. Staff evaluates the reports and either performs the work recommendations or propose a listing to the Board of Supervisors for ones in need of rehabilitating or replacing. The Board of Supervisors approves the project in order for staff to proceed with the allocation of funds and eventually becomes a capital project for the County.

You can report the pothole by calling 209-533-5633 during CRA business hours or via the Citizen Request Tracker. If you live along a County maintained road, we will send a crew to repair the pothole. County Service Area roads will be referred to Special Districts Administration to be addressed. Residents of privately maintained roads are responsible for their own road maintenance.

Funding availability limits major reconstruction to major or minor collector roads.

DBE stands for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, a program implemented by local agencies and state departments of transportation pursuant to federal regulations. This program applies to all contracts financed in whole or in part by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) or Federal Highways Administration (FHWA). In order for small disadvantaged firms, including those owned by minorities and women, to participate as a DBE in federal-assisted contracts, they must apply for and receive certification. For the State of California, DBE certification is performed by a certifying agency of the California Unified Certification Program (CUCP).

A permit will be required when work is done within a County Maintained Road right-of-way. Also, certain building permit projects require existing non-conforming encroachments to be brought up to current county standards.

A written request for an extension on your encroachment permit must be sent or faxed to our office prior to the expiration of date of your permit. Please state the reason that you feel an extension is warranted and how much additional time you will need to complete your project.

A Grading Review Permit (GRP) is issued when grading is greater than 50 cubic yards (cy) and is proposed in conjunction with a sewage disposal permit or well permit. A GRP is required in conjunction with a building permit if the grading exceeds 50 cy and the parcel size is greater than 3.0 net acres.

The grading amount shown on the application form is intended to be the largest amount whether it be cut or fill not the combination of the two. Information on how to calculate the quantity of anticipated grading can be found in the Grading Information Packet.

Stockpiling is the temporary storing of earth material on a site for future use. In order to obtain a permit to stockpile the applicant should anticipate placing the stockpile on a natural slope that is 10% or less, in a manner that does not create a nuisance or a hazard to the general public. The length of time that a stockpile is allowed is specified in the Tuolumne County Ordinance Code section 12.20.390 (D).

Foster parents receive a monthly assistance payment to cover food, clothing, and toiletry costs as well as offset additional costs (such as transportation, extracurricular activities, etc). These payments are not to be considered extra income for the family.

Medical, vision, and dental coverage is provided to foster youth through the Medi-Cal program.

Yes, applicants are required to complete 27 hours of pre-service training prior to becoming licensed foster parents. An additional eight hours of post-service training is required every year thereafter. These classes are offered at no cost.

In addition, foster parents are required to have age appropriate CPR and First Aid certification.

Foster Family Homes must meet the minimum standards outlined in the Title 22, Chapter 9.5, Division 6 California Code of Regulations. Tuolumne County Foster Care Licensing has developed a Foster Family Home Self-Assessment Guide to help you prepare for your initial home inspection.

The primary goal of foster care is to provide temporary care for the child until he or she is able to reunify with their birth family. When this is not possible, foster parents may request to be considered as adoptive parents.

Foster parents may also select to be a “Fost-Adopt” home where they are only contacted if a child is projected to be or has been freed for adoption.

Yes, you can become a respite care provider. Respite care providers provide babysitting services for licensed foster parents or approved caregivers either in the caregiver’s home or their own home. Respite care providers must complete a background check, health screening, pre-service training, and be CPR and First Aid Certified.

If you are interested in becoming a respite care provider, please contact Tuolumne County Foster Care Licensing at 533-5773 for more information.

GIS is a system or technology that manages, analyzes, and disseminates geographic knowledge. In Tuolumne County, the GIS is used to create maps and perform analysis using information related to properties, zoning, roads, addresses, locations of various features, and other geographic information. It is also a critical tool used in Dispatch to speed the time it takes to respond to 911 call or other incident. For a more detailed description of GIS technology, we recommend that you visit: What is GIS

The GIS webpage gives you links to the map viewers that are currently available. We are working to add new ones and improve the existing viewers and will post the new/improved map tools as soon as they are ready. Within each of the viewers are icon-based toolsets, and help in using those is found by clicking the link "Detailed help".

We work with the datasets constantly and strive to make the data as accurate as we can. However, we understand that there are limitations to how the information should be used because of the variable accuracy and completeness of the data, and hope that reading the disclosure information will cause the public user to understand the limitations. Actively checking the results with this Department prior to making a further investment of time or money is strongly recommended. If we can set the Acknowledgement page in a cookie form or similar that would make you only click the "I agree" button once and then remember, we will do so in the future.

None of the GIS layers have been prepared to meet Survey or Engineering accuracy and should not be relied upon in design work. The horizontal accuracy of the individual layers varies widely, and sometimes the accuracy of different areas of the same layer also varies widely. The use is intended for planning-level work, to show the overall spatial relationship between features suitable for large-scale or broad-brush viewing and analysis.

We have prepared map viewers based on two types of application builder software: Javascript and Flex. The Javascript viewers employ the basic layers should work on most computers, so long as your browser security allows it to work (check your pop-up blockers and turn them off). The Adobe Flex viewers do not work on most Apple devices like Ipads and Iphones. However, the Flex app is much more powerful and allows us to deliver more layers and tools with better customization so we are going to continue using it unless a better alternative arises.

No. Some layers used by certain in-house users are considered confidential and are not available. Although the parcel layer is based on the Assessors’s Maps, the ownership and some other data maintained by the Assessor’s Office can only obtained from them directly, so those data are also not publicly available through GIS.

Map tools and data-sets are inevitably large, complex files, which can take a long time to load when you are using a slower dial-up connection. We try to balance the file size and load time with the desire to make the tools easy to use and powerful. If we can improve the viewers and make the load time shorter, we will do that in the future.

We work with the data-sets every day and strive to make the data as accurate as we can. However, we understand that there are limitations to how the information should be used because of the variable accuracy and completeness of the data, and hope that reading the disclosure information will cause the public user to understand the limitations.

Actively checking the results with this department prior to making a further investment of time or money is strongly recommended. If we can set the acknowledgement page in a cookie form or similar that would make you only click the I Agree button once and then remember, we will do so in the future.

Like all of the major webpages for the Community Resources Agency, the GIS page has contact information on the side. Ways of using the contact information to ask a question include a phone number, address, and a link that allows the user to send an email to us. We try to answer any inquiry in a complete and timely fashion.

As we are able to devise Printer tools that allow the user to print a map directly from the viewers, we will enable those and put print icons on the viewer interface. Without those, the user will have to use a “Print Screen” process to copy the image of the map within the viewer to another application to print.

The Tuolumne County Grand Jury is an independent body of 19 people serving as an arm of the court. The Grand Jury serves as a full body committee, as well as in individual committees. The jury operates with a court-appointed foreperson who facilitates the activities of the jury and acts as its spokesperson. Grand jurors serve voluntarily for one year beginning July 1.

The Housing Authority of the County of Stanislaus administers the Housing and Community Development (HUD) Section 8 Program (Housing Vouchers) in Tuolumne County. Contact (209)557-2014. Housing Authority of the County of Stanislaus

The California Department of Housing and Community Development Office of the Mobilehome Ombudsman (ombudsman@hcd.ca.gov) can assist you. You can contact them at (800) 952-5275 or use their Online Compliant Form

The Mobilehome Park Rent Control Ordinance Tenant Acknowledgment Form can be downloaded (click link) – note that this form will be on a CRA Housing Division page & can be linked to it). You can also call (209) 533-5633.

The County has a First Time Homebuyer Program is managed by the Tuolumne County Housing Division, and is available for income-qualified households. You can visit the Housing Division webpage for more information or call (209) 533-5633.

The Affordable Housing Resources in Tuolumne County’s Unincorporated Areas handout found on the Housing Division webpage provides a list of affordable housing developments in the unincorporated areas of the County and the contact information for these complexes. You will also find contact information for other organizations in the area that might be able to help you locate affordable housing.

You may contact the Department of Social Services at 533-5711 or 533-7352 to apply, or you may access and complete the Application for Social Services (SOC 295) at: http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/cdssweb/entres/forms/English/SOC295.pdf and submit it to the Department of Social Services located at 20075 Cedar Road North, Sonora, CA 95370. IHSS Program staff will then contact you to schedule an intake appointment in your home to determine eligibility for the program.

IHSS services are assessed as time needed per task. The increase in hours would be based on the recipient’s need of a specific daily living activity (i.e.bathing). All requests must be made with the case carrying social worker.

An Independent Care Provider who has completed the enrollment process through the Department of Social Services. An Independent Care Provider may be a relative, neighbor, roommate, friend, etc. If you do not have an Independent Care Provider in mind and need a referral, the Department of Social Services may be able to assist with this upon request. Please be advised that the IHSS recipient acts as the employer of the Independent Care Provider and is responsible for interviewing, hiring and scheduling their provider. Independent Care Providers are not Tuolumne County Employees.

Care providers are considered Independent Providers and must complete the required enrollment process through the Department of Social Services before they can receive payment for providing IHSS authorized services. To complete the enrollment process the independent provider must complete the following steps:

• Complete and sign an IHSS Provider Enrollment Form (SOC 426). The provider must submit the form to the Tuolumne County Department of Social Services at 20075 Cedar Road North, Sonora, CA 95370 and present original documentation of a current photo identification and social security card to verify their identity.• Complete the Independent Provider Orientation.• Complete and sign the Provider Enrollment Agreement (SOC 846). This form is completed at the Provider Orientation. • Submit fingerprints and pass a criminal background check from the Department of Justice. Once this process is completed, the Independent Provider will receive a notice stating they have completed the enrollment process. After the Independent Provider has been assigned to the IHSS recipient, the Independent Provider will receive time cards to begin claiming service hours.

As the employer, the IHSS recipient must sign the time card stating the services were completed by the Independent Provider. If the IHSS recipient refuses to sign, stating the Independent Provider did not work the hours they are claiming, the Independent Provider may file a claim with the State of California Labor and Workforce Development Agency. You can visit their website at http://www.dir.ca.gov/default.html.

The IHSS program only pays for authorized hours, and any hours claimed that are not authorized will be the responsibility of the IHSS recipient. The IHSS program has specific regulations which dictate the daily activities that can be authorized and the hours are based on the need of the recipient. The IHSS recipient may request an assessment for an increase in hours if their circumstances have changed and they believe they require additional assistance.

When the IHSS Recipient has a monthly Medi-Cal share of cost, the recipient will be responsible for paying the IHSS service hours that equal their share of cost. Once the monthly share of cost has been paid by the recipient, IHSS will pay the remaining balance. It is often the case that the recipient’s share of cost is greater than the IHSS services authorized and therefore, would not be eligible for the IHSS program.

Please be advised that beginning November 2013, all timecards will need to be mailed by the Independent Provider to the Timecard Processing Facility in Chico, California. Sending timecards to Tuolumne County Department of Social Services will delay payment. Until November 2013, providers should mail their timecards to The Tuolumne County Department of Social Services at 20075 Cedar Road North, Sonora, CA 95370.

The timecard hours are processed and submitted to the State payroll contractor. State payroll has 10 days to issue payment.

The Independent Living Program (ILP) is a program designed to enable eligible youth to achieve self-sufficiency prior to leaving the foster care support system. ILP provides living skills assessments, training, case management, and services for each participating youth to assist in achieving this goal.

ILP services are available to youth who were/are in foster care at any time between their 16th to their 21st birthday. Tuolumne County allows youth in foster care to begin ILP participation at age 15 ½, however will are not eligible for financial incentives until age 16.

ILP offered a variety of services to assist youth in their transition to independent living. Services include daily living skills classes, life skills assessments, assistance in obtaining needed documents, employment and education support, housing assistance, and aftercare support services.

Aftercare services are available to the following youth up to their 21st birthday:• Youth who were in foster care after their 16th birthday and whose dependency/wardship was terminated and/or CWS or Probation case has been closed.• Youth who were in foster care or adjudicated a ward of the court or court ordered dependency after their 16th birthday and are no longer in foster care because they have been reunited with their families and are receiving Family Maintenance programs services.• Youth who were in a legal guardianship (established after their 8th birthday) and the guardianship was dissolved by the guardian or terminated the court.• Youth who leave foster care or legal guardianship to live independently following emancipation or reaching age of majority.

The ILP Aftercare Program continues to offer support and assistance to youth who have left the foster care system to help them make the transition into independent living.

Click on these links to access the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Chafee Grant online application. If you need help completing these applications, contact the ILP office at 533-5773.

Effective January 1, 2012, the California Fostering Connections to Success Act, also known as Assembly Bill 12 (AB12), gives eligible foster youth in California the option to remain in foster care and receive support services until age 21. Youth must satisfy one of the following requirements while participating in the Extended Foster Care Program:• Be enrolled in high school or equivalent• Be enrolled in college/vocational school• Work at least 80 hours/month• Participate in a program/activity that helps find a job or removes barriers to employment• Unable to do one of the above because of a medical or mental health condition

For more information about the Extended Foster Care Program, please contact Tuolumne County Child Welfare Services at (209) 533-5717.

The septic tank is a buried, watertight container typically made of concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene. It holds the wastewater long enough to allow solids to settle out (formingsludge) and oil and grease to float to the surface (as scum). It also allows partial decomposition of the solid materials. Compartments and a T-shaped outlet in theseptic tank prevent the sludge and scum from leaving the tank and traveling into the drainfield area. Screens are also recommended to keep solids from entering the drainfield. It is highly recommended that new tanks have risers with lids installed at the ground surface to allow easy location, inspection, pumping and maintenance of the tank.

The wastewater exits the septic tank and is discharged into the drainfield for further treatment by the soil. The partially treated wastewater is pushed along into the drainfield for further treatment every time new wastewater enters the tank. If the drainfield is overloaded with too much liquid, it will flood, causing sewage to surface above the ground surface or create backups in plumbing fixtures. Surfacing sewage is a public health hazard and a violation of state and county codes

The wastewater exits the septic tank and is discharged into the drainfield for further treatment by the soil. The partially treated wastewater is pushed along into the drainfield for further treatment every time new wastewater enters the tank. If the drainfield is overloaded with too much liquid, it will flood, causing sewage to surface above the ground surface or create backups in plumbing fixtures. Surfacing sewage is a public health hazard and a violation of state and county codes.

Because many areas don’t have suitable soils for typical septic systems or have other site constraints such as excessive slopes, or can not meet minimum setback requirements, a special design or alternative system may be required by the local Environmental Health Division. These systems are designed by a Civil or Structural Engineer, Registered Environmental Health Specialist, or an Engineering Geologist. Special design or alternative systems use new technology to improve treatment processes and require special care and maintenance. Some alternative systems use sand, peat, plastic or textile media instead of soil to promote wastewater treatment. Other systems might use aerators, aerobic treatment units or disinfection devices.Float switches, pumps, and other electrical or mechanical components are often used in alternative systems. Special design and alternative systems are required be inspected and serviced at least on an annual basis by a Qualified Service Provider. Check with your local Environmental Health Division or Septic Pumper or Qualified Service Provider for more information.

If your home was built after 1995, your septic tank, drainfield, and reserve drainfield should be clearly designated on the “as-built” drawing for your home on file at the local Environmental Health Division. You might also see lids or manhole covers for your septic tank or inspection risers for your drainfield. Older tanks and drain fields are often hard to find because there are no visible parts and may need to be located by a septic pumper, contractor or consultant.

When septic systems are properly designed, constructed, and maintained, they effectively reduce or eliminate most human health or environmental threats posed by pollutants in household wastewater. However, they require regular maintenance or they can fail. Septic systems need to be monitored to ensure that they work properly throughout their service lives.

A key reason to maintain your septic system is to save money! Failing septic systems are expensive to repair or replace, and poor maintenance is often the culprit. Having your septic system inspected regularly is a bargain when you consider the cost of replacing the entire system. Your system will need pumping depending on how many people live in the house and the size of the system. An unusable septic system or one in disrepair will lower your property value and could pose a legal liability.

Other good reasons for safe treatment of sewage include preventing the spread of infection and disease and protecting water resources. Typical pollutants in household wastewater are nitrogen, phosphorus, and disease-causing bacteria and viruses. If a septic system is working properly, it will effectively remove most of these pollutants.With one-fourth of U.S. homes using septic systems, more than 4 billion gallons of wastewater per day is dispersed below the ground’s surface. Inadequately treated sewage from septic systems can be a cause of groundwater contamination. It poses a significant threat to drinking water and human health because it can contaminate drinking water wells and cause diseases and infections in people and animals. Improperly treated sewage that contaminates nearby surface waters also increases the chance of swimmers contracting a variety of infectious diseases. These range from eye and ear infections to acute gastrointestinal illness and diseases like hepatitis.

Buildup, sludge and floating scum need to be removed through periodic pumping of the septic tank. Regular inspections and pumping are the best and cheapest way to keep your septic system in good working order and prevent buildup, sludge and scum from entering and clogging the drainfield.

You should have a standard septic system inspected at least every 3 years by a professional and your tank pumped as recommended by the inspector (generally every 3 to 5 years). Alternative systems with electrical float switches, pumps, or mechanical components need to be inspected more often, generally once a year. Your service provider should inspect for leaks and look at the scum and sludge layers in your septic tank. If the bottom of the scum layer is within 6 inches of the bottom of the outlet tee or the top of the sludge layer is within 12 inches of the outlet tee, your tank needs to be pumped. Remember to note the sludge and scum levels determined by your service provider in your operation and maintenance records. This information will help you decide how often pumping is necessary.

Dental floss, feminine hygiene products, condoms, diapers, cotton swabs, cigarette butts, coffee grounds, cat litter, paper towels, and other kitchen and bathroom items that can clog and potentially damage septic system components if they become trapped. Flushing household chemicals, gasoline, oil, pesticides, antifreeze, and paint can stress or destroy the biological treatment taking place in the system or might contaminate surface waters and groundwater. If your septic tank pumper is concerned about quickly accumulating scum layers, reduce the flow of floatable materials like fats, oils, and grease into your tank or be prepared to pay for more frequent inspections and pumping.

Your drainfield is an important part of your septic system. Here are a few things you should do to maintain it:

• Plant only grass over and near your septic system. Deep rooted plants such as trees or shrubs may clog and damage the drainfield.

• Don’t drive or park vehicles on any part of your septic system. Doing so can compact the soil in your drainfield or damage the pipes, tank, or other septic system components.

• Keep roof drains, basement sump pump drains, and other rainwater or surface water drainage systems away from the drainfield and limit your water use. If the amount of wastewater entering the system is more than the system can handle, the wastewater may back up into the house, emit foul odors or surface above ground in the yard.

Some soils provide excellent wastewater treatment; others don’t. For this reason, the design of the drainfield of a septic system is based on the results of soil analysis. Homeowners and system designers sometimes underestimate the significance of good soils or believe soils can handle any volume of wastewater applied to them. Many failures can be attributed to having an undersized drainfield or high seasonal groundwater table. Undersized septic tanks—another design failure—allow solids to clog the drainfield and result in system failure.If a septic tank isn’t watertight, water can leak into and out of the system. Usually, water from the environment leaking into the system causes hydraulic overloading, taxing the system beyond its capabilities and causing inadequate treatment and sometimes sewage to flow up to the ground surface. Water leaking out of the septic tank is a significant health hazard because the leaking wastewater has not yet been treated.Even when systems are properly designed, failures due to poor installation practices can occur. If the drainfield is not properly leveled, wastewater can overload the system. Heavy equipment can damage the drainfield during installation which can lead to soil compaction and reduce the wastewater infiltration rate. And if surface drainage isn’t diverted away from the field, it can flow into and saturate the drainfield.

Yes. The Court may give you a general order. Some of the common fees covered under this order are for services provided by the the Probation Department, the Public Defender, and Booking and Release fees, and Administrative fees.

All fines in Failure to Pay status must be paid in full before the hold on your driver's license will be removed. Payment in cash, money order or cashier's check is the fastest method of payment to release a hold.

Tuolumne County has four Design Review Districts in the communities of Jamestown, Columbia, Tuolumne and Twain Harte. The County no longer issues Design Review Permits. Applications for discretionary entitlements, such as Use Permits, Site Development Permits, Site Review Permits, Planned Unit Development Permits, Tentative Subdivision Maps and Tentative Parcel Maps, submitted for property within a Design Review District will be reviewed for consistency with the applicable Design Guide.

The Tuolumne County Zoning Ordinance allows for home occupations. A home occupation must be conducted entirely within a dwelling or private garage exclusively by the inhabitants of the dwelling and must be incidental to the residential use of the parcel and cannot change the residential character of the parcel. Outdoor storage is not allowed in conjunction with a home occupation. Employees are not allowed to come to the location of a home occupation. A cottage food operation is different from a home occupation and has different rules.

Tuolumne County does not have a noise ordinance. Many land development projects have been conditioned to restrict days and hours when construction can occur and to require that operations adhere to specific noise standards. Please check with the Planning Division of the Community Resources Agency to see if such conditions apply to a specific development.

Recreational vehicles may be lived in within an approved recreational vehicle park. Two recreational vehicles may be stored in conjunction with any residence. Any such stored recreational vehicle may be used for shelter for human beings for up to 30 days per calendar year.

One garage, not exceeding a building coverage of 25% of the parcel size or 4,000 square feet, whichever is less is a permitted use in the General Recreational (K), Residential (R), Residential Estate (RE) and Agricultural (A or AE) zoning districts. Other structures are allowed only when accessory to a permitted primary use of a parcel, such as a residence or a qualifying agricultural operation.

The Williamson Act is a program authorized by the State of California and implemented by Tuolumne County that allows preferential property tax treatment in return for a property owner agreeing to maintain the property in an agricultural or open space use for a period of ten years. The minimum acreage required for participation in the Williamson Act is based upon the agricultural use of the land. Some intensive agricultural uses require only 40 acres for participation, while dryland grazing requires at least 160 acres.

In Tuolumne County, some zoning districts allow general farming and ranching and others do not. Agricultural animals may be kept on parcels zoned for Agricultural (A or AE) or Residential Estate (RE) uses. Agricultural animals may not be kept in Residential (R) zoning districts.

The Zoning Ordinance allows up to four dogs or any combination of six dogs and cats (with not more than four dogs) to be kept on any parcel. If you want to keep more than this number of pets, you must obtain a Use Permit for a kennel. Kennels are allowed only in certain zoning districts and only with a Use Permit. Therefore, you should contact the Planning Division of the Community Resources Agency to determine if a kennel is allowed in your zoning district.

After successful completion of probation you may be able to petition the Court to dismiss charges pursuant to Sections 1203.4 or 1203.4a of the Penal Code. You or your attorney may petition the Court for relief, or you may also apply through the Probation Department. A fee of $150.00 per case will be assessed in each case. To apply, please complete the "Change of Plea Application" on this website or contact the Probation Department at 209-533-7500.

To enroll in the Community Service Program, take your Court order to the probation office located at 1194 Hwy 49 in Sonora on any Wednesday or Friday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. You will be assisted with the enrolling process when you appear at the Probation Office. There is a fee of $69.75 for cases with up to twenty-five hours and a fee of $81.75 for cases with more than twenty-five hours. The fee can be paid at the Probation Department or at the Office of Revenue Recovery and must be paid prior to your Court ordered completion deadline.

You can apply for the Electronic Monitoring Program by obtaining an application packet at either of the probation offices in Sonora. When you pick up the application, staff will schedule an appointment for you to meet with a Probation Officer. The Probation Officer will assess your eligibility for the program. You will be advised of your eligibility status in a sentencing report, or depending on the circumstances of your case, by the officer who assessed you. There is an administration fee of $38.25 and a daily fee of $16.50 to $19.50 associated with EMP.

To enroll in the Work Release Program, you must first report to the Office of Revenue Recovery (ORR) for a financial assessment; ORR will need a copy of your Court order. After you have completed the financial assessment, take your Court order and any documents from ORR to the probation office located at 1194 Hwy 49, in Sonora on any Monday at 7:30 a.m., any Wednesday at 10:15 a.m., and any Friday at 1:00 p.m.; staff will assist you with the enrollment process. There is an administrative fee of $43.50 and a daily fee of $17.50 associated with the Work Release Program. All fees must be paid at ORR prior to enrolling in the program.

Possible Scenarios:If you turned in a late report, benefits will not be available for 10 working days. CalFresh benefits are distributed on the day of the month that corresponds to the last digit of your case number. Your application is not approved.

No. The Public Guardian, as with most conservators, charges an hourly fee for service. Charges resulting from consultations and court appearances by County Counsel will be passed on to the conservatee as well.

Sometimes people without general capacity can still make decisions in their own best interest or have already designated someone to make decisions for them, such as a Power of Attorney. In some cases, family, medical providers, and other individuals may petition the court to make one-time decisions for incapacitated individuals. A conservatorship is often the last choice. A conservatorship through the Public Guardian’s office is explored only when all alternatives have been exhausted.

The primary function of the County Recorder is to place documents affecting people and their property on “record” so that the public in general and persons interested in that individual or property can determine whether there are other persons or agencies who have a claim on that individual or property. One common form of claim is a “lien” which accounts for about 6 per cent of the documents recorded in Tuolumne County. Placing a lien against someone or their property is a way show that an obligation is owed by that person or property owner to the person who holds the lien.

The most common form of lien is a tax lien recorded by a government agency to indicate an outstanding tax obligation. Such liens can be for unpaid income or payroll taxes or for unpaid property taxes on a boat, manufactured home or business equipment. The other common form of lien is a mechanic’s lien which is recorded by a supplier or contractor to show that they have delivered materials or services to a property for which they have not been paid. These liens are placed on the public record to alert anyone who is planning to do business with the person, such as a purchase, lease or loan that they may become subject to an outstanding obligation if they proceed.

Once a lien is recorded, as is true with any recorded document, it always remains “of record” under that person’s name. When a lien is satisfied, i.e. the taxes or debt is paid; a release of lien is recorded which has the effect of notifying the public that the person or property is now free of that obligation. Unfortunately, credit reporting agencies often have a hard time matching up the release with the original lien and the credit of the person against whom the lien was recorded may suffer long after the obligation was released. Tuolumne County Recorder does NOT notify credit reporting agencies of releases.

If you have a question or dispute with regard to a lien, you may contact the person or firm that recorded the lien to attempt to resolve the matter, or consult your own attorney to advise you of your rights or obligations. You can obtain records of liens yourself by visiting the Recorder’s Office at 2 South Green Street, 3rd Floor, Sonora, California, or, if real property is involved, obtain a preliminary report from a title company as part of the escrow process.

Should you have any questions please contact Tuolumne County Assessor-Recorder, Carol Jackson at 209.533.5531 or by e-mail cjackson@co.tuolumne.ca.us or Recorder@tuolumnecounty.ca.gov.

Children are required to be current on age appropriate childhood immunizations. We request a copy of the child's record at the time of registration, and no later than the first day of the first session the participant attends.

If your child is not immunized due to personal/religious beliefs, an immunization exemption form must be completed before the start of the program.

The Youth Center program is a drop-in program. There is no fee to attend one of the Youth Centers and enjoy the facilities and all that they have to offer. There may be a small fee to participate in some of the Youth Center trips or special activities.

Our program is a much needed link between the schools, families, primary care doctors, and other health care providers involved in the overall care and well being of young people. It is not easy for families to obtain expert health care advice, and this can lead to tragic illnesses that might have otherwise been prevented.

We are here to provide health care, health education, and health resources to our county’s youth, especially when other ways to receive that care are not available.

The health van was made possible through a start-up grant from the Sonora Area Foundation and the Irving J. Symons Foundation in 2007. To continue providing services to Tuolumne County youth, the health van must bill for services through Medi-Cal, Family Pact, CHDP, or cash payments.

Our billing procedures keep costs to students low by utilizing other grant funds, state outreach reimbursement programs, school payments, and agency grants.

Tuolumne County has not taken new subdivision roads into the County maintained system since 1989. It is likely that a condition of approval to build your neighborhood required a County Service Area to be formed as a mechanism to fund road maintenance services.

County Service areas receive snow removal services contracted through local vendors. Three snow plow zones have been created to maximize service delivery. Plowing in CSAs is not done by County Road Crews.

Streetlight repair is done by PG&E but the Community Resources Agency can report the outage to PG&E for you. Please provide the number on the pole (if possible) and a cross street. Please note that if the light is not in an established lighting district, the light may be privately owned and there is a possibility the owner of the light has terminated the service contract with PG&E. If you want to report the outage yourself to PG&E you can do it online.

First, informally check with your neighbors to see if they feel the same way as a PRD zone of benefit special tax for road maintenance requires a 2/3 approval and there are setup and administrative charges involved. If they seem positive regarding the basic idea, circulate a petition with the property owners and submit it to the CRA so that staff can prepare some preliminary estimates regarding how to proceed and what the costs would be.

Inactive CSAs are areas where the property owners have not approved a funding source such as a special assessment or special tax. These CSAs do not receive annual reports or have a formal maintenance program in place since the funds have not been approved to prepare or administer them. Maintenance or repair work is done as funds allow. Since the 2009 changes in California County Service Area law now requires CSAs to be perpetually funded, a CSA with no source of income may be considered for dissolution.

a. Paradesb. Any event that requires street closuresc. Races (foot, bike or coasting devices)d. Film permits which require a street closure.e. Miscellaneous events which require street closure or traffic control signage within the County road right-of-way.NOTE: Musical events that anticipate a 1,000 or greater attendance will also require a special event permit from the CRA Planning Department.

Anyone interested in quitting tobacco (smoking & chewing) or interested in information for someone they know, are able to receive a free Quit Smoking or Quit Chewing Kit from the front desk. This kit includes information about starting their cessation program. Tobacco education materials (quit guides, pamphlets and quit cards) are also available to the public. Free cessation classes are currently being offered at the Public Health Department (times and dates will vary) – to sign up call 533-7464. A quit smoking class is also offered through Sonora Regional Medical Center, call 536-3726 for more information. Finally, the 1-800-NO-BUTTS hotline is a free resource for those wishing to quit; callers can speak with a cessation specialist and work with them one-on-one to quit smoking. For more information and resources to quit, nobutts.org.

These dates were established by the State of California. A single tax bill is payable in two installments to ease the taxpayers burden of making one large payment. These installments are due November 1st and February 1st. Penalties are incurred if the first installment is paid after December 10 and/or the second installment is paid after April 10. Both installments may be paid when the first installment is due. However, the second installment cannot be paid before the first installment is paid.

Property taxes can increase each year at a maximum of 2%, determined by the Assessor’s office. If you feel that the value of your property has gone down, you can request a re-assessment from the Assessor’s office.

Annual property tax bills are mailed out early October of each year. Tax bills not received by November 10 may be obtained by contacting the Tax Collector’s Office. Failure to receive an annual tax bill is never grounds to cancel a tax penalty (R&T 2610.5).

Liens are not removed from your credit report. Both the lien and the corresponding lien release will show on the report. If you have not paid all past due taxes, a lien release will not appear on your report.

A new property owner’s regular secured tax bill is sent to the previous owner because the Tax Collector’s Office is unaware the property has been sold. Regardless of the reason, if you do not receive a secured property tax bill by November 10th, contact this office at (209) 533-5544. A substitute bill may also be obtained by going to https://countytaxretriever.com/counties/county/12 and entering your parcel number.

Taxpayers have the right to request a cancellation of a penalty assessment on secured and unsecured property by the Treasurer and Tax Collector. Taxpayers may request a penalty cancellation either orally or in writing.

The following reasons for late payment are common examples which are NOT sufficient enough for the Tax Collector as prescribed by state law to cancel penalties:

• I did not receive a tax bill• I’ve never missed a payment• My bank returned the check in error• Your website rejected my payment• I was out of town or Country• The mailman did not pick up • Bad weather

You may legally haul up to 9 waste or used tires to an approved facility. If hauling 10 or more waste or used tires, you must register your vehicle with CalRecycle. During transportation you are required to carry the registration certificate and display the decal in the lower right corner of the windshield.

Each transfer of waste/used tires must be documented on CalRecycle’s waste tire manifest and trip log. The original must be submitted to CalRecycle within 14 days and file copies must be maintained for 3 years.

Contact the Tuolumne County Local Enforcement Agency (Community Resources Agency, Environmental Health Division) at 209-533-5692 for written authorization for exemption from waste tire hauling requirements.

The WtW program provides childcare for participants who are in manager-approved WtW activities or who are working CalWORKs recipients, as long as these activities can be verified. WtW allows participants to choose licensed or unlicensed providers, following trustline rules. When WtW participants are no longer on cash aid due to increased earnings, they are often still eligible to subsidized childcare through WtW or an Alternative Payment Provider (APP).

While WtW is a work first program, sometimes participants are unable to participate in employment activities due to a disability. Education, training or retraining, volunteering, or counseling services might be more appropriate activities. These will be discussed with the participant at the appraisal meeting. If the participant’s disability is not expected to improve, a WtW case manager can assist the participant in obtaining Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Securing employment may affect CalWORKs and CalFresh benefits by reducing the grant amount, depending on the type of employment and amount of income. The combined income from employment and benefits is always greater than the amount of cash in benefits alone, and provides more financial freedom. If earnings are above the income reporting threshold for your sized family, you will be self-sufficient and off cash assistance. You may still be eligible to some supportive services after your cash aid discontinues.

WtW will assist participants in job search activities and will provide leads, job openings, and referrals to employment agencies. WtW may also provide necessary services and supportive services, such as interview clothing, interview coaching, or transportation to an interview.

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) provides access to nutritious foods, nutrition counseling, referrals to health services and social services and breast feeding support and education to eligible participants at no charge.WIC clients get:• Nutrition and health assessment from Registered Dietitians and trained nutrition workers • Individual nutrition counseling and group classes • Breastfeeding help, including a Breastfeeding Helpline, breastfeeding peer counselors and breast pumps • Help getting health insurance and finding a doctor or dentist • Reminders about immunizations and other important health information • Referrals to other community programs that help families • Checks to buy healthy food items such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, milk, cheese, cereal, beans, and more. In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis ofrace,color, national origin, sex, age or disability. WIC is an equal opportunity programCall 533-7431 for more information or to make an appointment.

The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program: call 209-533-7431; Find them on Facebook or online at: http://www.co.tuolumne.ca.us/index.aspx?nid=259. •La Leche League: call: 209-981-3578; Find them on Facebook or online at: www.llli.org.•Adventist Health Sonora: The Birth Center has lactation hours available. Call 209-536-3260 to make an appointment.•Tuolumne County Breastfeeding Coalition: 209-591-8524; Find them on Facebook